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American Express is partnering with NBCUniversal and Fox on a long-sought method of activating sales directly inspired by television programming. But observers aren't clear on whether this is a profound new direction or a novelty. "Is television to remain a one-way funnel of content that gets piped in to the living room from Big Hollywood, or is TV's content something that can prompt chatter and response -- and purchases -- as new technology eliminates many of the differences between the TV screen and the tablet window or computer monitor?" Brian Steinberg asks.

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Business-to-business marketers should keep a content-creation swipe file that holds clippings, ideas and thoughts in one place for those times when inspiration is needed. Use a digital tool like Pocket, Evernote or Pinterest, and set up a spreadsheet to keep track of ideas.

The percentage of homes worldwide that access pay-TV content via set-top boxes will, in three years, drop from 82% to just over 50%, IHS Screen Digest projects. By 2015, almost half of all devices used to view TV content will be PCs, smartphones, tablets, gaming systems or other nontraditional devices, according to IHS.

Intel may launch a virtual cable service by the end of the year that would give consumers the ability to watch U.S. television channels via an Internet connection, sources say. The chipmaker reportedly has been pitching the concept to media companies, saying it plans to develop its own set-top box for the service. Sony, Dish Network, Google, Apple and Microsoft all have considered similar services.

ION Television President-CEO Brandon Burgess discusses the company's plans now that it has completed Chapter 11 reorganization. The newly privatized company is mulling getting more local through the possible addition of news or other shows and wants to play a major role in the delivery of mobile DTV content.